I'm kinda torn here... debating whether to handle permits myself to save some cash, or just bite the bullet and let a contractor deal with all the paperwork headaches. Curious what route you guys took and why?
Went through this exact dilemma last year when we were restoring our old Victorian. At first, I figured I'd handle permits myself—how hard could it be, right? But honestly, the historical district guidelines were way more complicated than I expected. Ended up spending hours just trying to decode the paperwork and requirements... felt like I was chasing my tail half the time.
Eventually, I caved and let our contractor handle it. Yeah, it cost a bit extra, but it saved me a ton of stress and probably sped things up too. Still, I'm curious—are you dealing with historical or zoning restrictions at all? Because if it's straightforward stuff, DIY might be doable. But if you're in a similar boat to mine with historical preservation rules, I'd seriously consider letting someone else tackle that headache.
